A Royal Obligation
Chapter 263: It’s not over Until...

Chapter 263: It’s not over Until...

"Julian," Lucian muttered, though there was a faint glimmer of amusement in his otherwise composed expression. "Try not to revel in someone’s misery too much."

Julian straightened, still grinning. "Oh, come on. You can’t tell me that doesn’t feel a little... poetic."

Kaelix shot him a warning glance, and Julian held up his hands in mock surrender, though the grin never left his face.

"Stop it already," Kaelix said before turning his attention back to Cedric. "Where was Sadiki’s mother found? Was she unharmed?"

Cedric nodded, his expression darkening. "Yes, unharmed, but not in good condition, according to what I was told. They found her in an old abandoned castle, the same place he hid Eirik." Cedric’s teeth clenched, and his fists curled at his sides as though he wanted to hit something.

Kaelix’s face hardened, and for a moment, he didn’t reply. The mention of that place brought memories crashing down on him, memories he would give anything to forget. He could still see Eirik, pale and trembling, lying in his arms after they finally found him. His consort had been taken from him, hidden away in that godforsaken place for weeks.

And their unborn child... Kaelix closed his eyes for a brief moment, the ache in his chest flaring like a wound that refused to heal. That loss was something neither of them had spoken about, not directly. But the grief lingered, silent and suffocating, fueling the fire of Kaelix’s rage against Carl and everyone who had enabled him.

The others were no better off. Theron’s jaw tightened as he stared at the ground, his hand unconsciously gripping the hilt of his sword. He could still remember how helpless he had felt during those dark days when they had no idea where Eirik was or whether he was even alive.

Lucian’s usual calm demeanor was shattered as his fists clenched, his face pale with suppressed anger. Knowing what his younger brother had endured in Carl’s hands filled him with guilt he couldn’t shake.

Julian, for once, wasn’t smiling. His knuckles turned white as he gripped his sword, his mind flashing back to the sheer devastation on Eirik’s face when they finally rescued him. It was a sight he couldn’t forget, no matter how hard he tried.

Ella crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her nails digging into her palms. Theo, usually the optimist, had his head bowed, his lips pressed into a thin line. He had always admired Eirik’s resilience, but even he had seen how much their cousin had suffered.

Lysander placed a comforting hand on Kaelix’s shoulder, breaking the tense silence. "He’ll pay for all of it," he said, his voice low and steady.

Kaelix’s lips curled into a snarl as he muttered, "Tenfold."

Draven stood slightly apart, his dark eyes fixed on Kaelix. He didn’t speak, but the intensity of his expression said enough. The thought of what Carl had done to Eirik, to Kaelix, and to their family filled him with a quiet, simmering rage.

Nobody spoke for a moment, the weight of their shared memories pressing down on them.

Theron finally broke the silence with a long exhale, his usual stoicism returning as he glanced at Kaelix. "At least that’s one less weight on our shoulders," he said quietly, referring to Sadiki’s mother.

"Indeed," Julian replied, though his usual lighthearted tone was absent.

Cedric, sensing the heaviness of the moment, cleared his throat. "You all should go and freshen up. There’s still a lot to do."

Theron gave his uncle a curt nod and gestured for his siblings and cousins to follow. "Come on."

Lucian, Julian, Ella, and Theo fell into step behind him, their bloodied armor weighing heavily on them, not just physically, but emotionally. Lysander and Draven exchanged a glance before deciding to join them. The metallic stench of blood clung to them all, and none of them could stand it any longer.

Kaelix stayed behind, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Cedric raised an eyebrow at him. "Not joining them?"

Kaelix shook his head, his eyes distant as he looked up at the sky. "Not yet."

Cedric didn’t press him. He could see the storm brewing behind Kaelix’s composed exterior, the sharp edge of grief and fury that hadn’t dulled despite everything they had accomplished.

As the others disappeared into the palace, Kaelix remained in the courtyard, his mind turning back to the war they had just waged. It wasn’t just a battle of territory or politics; it was personal. Every step of this campaign had been meticulously planned, not just with his father and in-laws but with a relentless determination to make Carl pay for every tear Eirik had shed, every moment of suffering he had endured.

Kaelix exhaled slowly, his gaze still fixed on the horizon as his mind wandered back to the day it all began.

He remembered bringing Eirik back to Valeidio after his treatment in Neomenia.

The decision had been carefully considered. Valeidio was Eirik’s childhood home, a place filled with memories that could help him heal. The hope was that familiar surroundings would bring him some semblance of peace.

Queen Morgana, Eirik’s mother, had been waiting at the gates when they arrived. The moment she saw her son, her regal composure cracked, and she ran to the carriage where Eirik was sleeping.

After Eirik was taken to his room, Kaelix had left him in Morgana’s care that day, knowing she would do everything in her power to help her son. But Kaelix didn’t have the luxury of staying by Eirik’s side. There were matters to attend to, wars to prepare for.

The memory of the meeting that followed was still vivid in his mind. He had walked into the grand chamber where the Valeidio royals awaited him, their expressions grim. King Thaddeus sat at the head of the table, his usual commanding presence shadowed by the weight of the situation. Lucian, Julian, and Theron had taken their places alongside their father, their faces mirrors of restrained fury.

It was during that meeting that he learned about the letter from Mbuzuoria. The contents were as audacious as they were infuriating, a formal statement blaming Carl for Eirik’s abduction and offering their "deepest regrets" for his actions, offering Carl as a sacrificial lamb to atone for their sins.

The hypocrisy was nauseating. Kaelix could still hear the murmur of outrage that spread through the chamber as the contents of the letter were read aloud. But what Mbuzuoria didn’t know was that the truth had already been revealed to them. Sadiki’s confession had left no doubt, their king, not just Carl, was the mastermind behind the numerous assassination attempts on Eirik.

Kaelix remembered the cold, calculating fury that had filled the room that day. Retaliation was inevitable, but rushing in blindly would have been suicide. Mbuzuoria’s cunning and their vast network of spies made every move perilous. To strike back, they needed precision.

That was when the plan had taken shape. Open discussions were no longer an option, not with the constant risk of being overheard. Since their enemy had ears everywhere. It was Kaelix who had suggested the unorthodox solution.

"From now on, we write," he had scrawled on a scrap of parchment during that tense meeting. "No spoken words about our plans. Everything vital is written, then destroyed. Our voices will be used only to mislead."

And so it began, the silent rebellion. Every strategy, every detail, carefully penned and burned to ash moments after being read. Their spoken words became decoys, a web of intentional lies spun to confuse any listening spies. It was a grueling, delicate process, but it worked.

Kaelix could still feel the weight of those silent meetings. The air had been thick with tension, every glance fraught with unspoken meaning, every movement deliberate. Secrecy had become a way of life.

Eirik’s face swam in his mind, a sharp stab of memory. The pain of his consort’s restless nights haunted him, the nights he’d woken from dreams, pleading for his baby. Those cries still echoed in Kaelix’s soul, a relentless storm of anger and sorrow.

He clenched his jaw, forcing his thoughts back to the present. The memories were a reminder of why they fought. He glanced at the others nearby and saw the same fire in their eyes, the same storm simmering beneath the surface.

Kaelix drew in a steadying breath. That day had been a turning point, the moment they chose to take the fight to Mbuzuoria instead of waiting for another blow.

The sound of approaching footsteps broke his reverie. Turning, Kaelix saw Lysander, his cousin, looking freshly cleaned but worn. His calm expression was tinged with quiet intensity.

"Still brooding?" Lysander asked, stopping beside him.

"Not brooding," Kaelix said softly. "Just... remembering."

Lysander nodded, his gaze drifting toward the sky. "We’ve come a long way since then."

"We have," Kaelix agreed. His voice hardened. "But it’s not over. Not until the king of Mbuzuoria and his son feel the weight of the pain they’ve caused."